Frostbite
Published on Nov 18, 2015
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
What is frostbite?
Frostbite is a medical condition caused by prolonged exposure to the extreme cold.
Causes
Frostbite is caused by two different means: cell death at the time of exposure and further cell deterioration and death due to a lack of oxygen.
When you are in extremely cold weather for a prolonged period of time your skin vessels narrow to give greater blood flow to the vital organs. Lack of the right amount of oxygen to the skin can kill off cells. When a few cells start to die, frostbite starts to occur.
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Symptoms
Frostnip- tingling sensations
Chilblains- inflamed tissue, swollen, red or purple
Trench Foot- reddened, swollen, painful, numb, or bleeding feet
Superficial- burning, numbness, tingling, itching, cold sensations in affected areas
Deep- decrease in sensation (eventually lost), swelling and blood-filled blisters, white or yellowish skin, waxy, turns purplish blue as rewarms, hard, no resistance, may appear blackened or dead
First Aid
-Keep the body elevated to reduce swelling
-Move to a warm area to prevent further heat loss
-Remove all wet clothing and constrictive jewelry that may further block the blood flow
-Give the person warm, nonalcoholic, noncaffeinated fluids to drink
-Apply a dry, sterile bandage, place cotton between any involved fingers or toes to prevent rubbing, and take the person to a medical facility as soon as possible
The DONT'S of First Aid
-Do not break, blister, or rub the affected areas
-Do not apply direct heat
-Do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes unless absolutely necessary
-Do not thaw
-Do not apply alcohol on affected areas
-Do not smoke cigarettes
Medical treatment
-IV fluids may be given during thawing
-The clear blisters and dead tissue are removed while the bloody ones are left intact to not disturb the underlying blood vessels
-When there is a great risk of damage enough to require amputation, TPA (tissue plasminogen activator) may be given into an artery to reduce the incidence of blood clots.
-A tetanus booster may be given
-Average 1-2 days at the hospital
Medical Treatment Cont.
-Aloe vera cream is applied every 6 hours, area is elevated and splinted
-Ibuprofen or similar medicine combat inflammation
-For deep frostbite, water therapy in a 104 F whirlpool bath is performed in order to remove dead tissue
Fun Facts
-Nearly 10,000 people get frostbite every year
-65% of people who had frostbite have long-term effects due to the gap between the incident and the surgery
-Children are more likely to experience frostbite and frostnip than adults because they experience heat loss from their skin more rapidly
-People with poor circulation or alcoholism are much more likely to develop injuries
-People who live in higher climates have a greater risk of getting frostbite
Historical Facts
-Napoleon's army suffered great casualties due to cold injuries. He began the war with 250,000 men, returning approximately 6 months later with only 350 fully functioning soldiers. During both World War II and the Korean War, frostbite accounted for more than 10 percent of all American casualties.
Works Cited
-"Frostbite First Aid: The Do's and Dont's." The First Aid Training Company. Ed. Jadmin. FA, n.d. Web. .
-"Winter Frostbite." Winter Frostbite. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2014. .
-"Read What Your Physician Is Reading on Medscape." EMedicineHealth. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2014. .
-"Winter Frostbite." Winter Frostbite. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.
-"Read What Your Physician Is Reading on Medscape." EMedicineHealth. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.
Photo by blmiers2
